CMU to play in 4th Detroit bowl game

File Photo/Matthew Stephens
Central Michigan's former kicker Andrew Aguila is lifted on the shoulders of his teammates after he kicked a game winning 37-yard field goal in overtime on January 6, 2010 at the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Central Michigan's former kicker Andrew Aguila is lifted on the shoulders of his teammates after he kicked a game winning 37-yard field goal in overtime on January 6, 2010 at the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala." target="_blank">

Western Kentucky fans will have to travel 472 miles to travel to Ford Field, while Central Michigan is only a 154-mile trip from campus, a factor junior running back Zurlon Tipton believes will give the Chippewas home-field advantage in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

“Definitely (it will),” Tipton said. “It’s only two hours down the road, so it’s going to be exciting with all of the fan's support.”

Plus, many players on the team have families who reside near the Detroit area.

“I think everyone is really excited,” senior receiver Cody Wilson said. “There are a lot of guys on the team from Michigan and a lot of family and friends from around there, so I think that’s really exciting, and it’s a good thing for this program.”

Wilson is one of several players on the team who has previously played at Ford Field.

“I think quite a few guys, whether it be in the MAC Championship game a few years back or playing in state championships, have played at Ford Field,” he said. “So, I think that plays to our advantage that we’ve been there before.”

This will be the seventh time CMU has played a postseason game at Ford Field. They beat Ohio 20-10 in the 2009 MAC Championship game, lost to Florida Atlantic 24-21 in the 2008 Motor City Bowl and lost 51-48 to Purdue in the same bowl in 2007.

CMU also won the 2007 MAC Championship against Miami 35-10, defeated Middle Tennessee State 31-14 in the 2006 Motor City Bowl and beat Ohio 31-10 in the 2006 MAC Championship.

Central Michigan's former kicker Andrew Aguila is lifted on the shoulders of his teammates after he kicked a game winning 37-yard field goal in overtime on January 6, 2010 at the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala." target="_blank">